“It’s nothing special.”
Mercury’s cold rebuttal had me blinking. He was staring at his phone, almost pretending he’d never spoken.
“Nothing special?” I asked, lifting a brow.
“Anyone with their resources could have done it.”
That wasn’t what the business magazines said. They touted Cordian Ashby as a man beyond his time, using growth strategies that led the industry. I’d never met him because his pack never had need of a corporate fixer. There was no minor white-collar crime to cover up, no playboy CEO image to tidy.
According to everyone except Mercury, they were perfect and groundbreaking.
I had a feeling I knew why Mercury didn’t think the same.
“Would you like us to talk you up?” I asked, standing up from the couch.
His eyes narrowed, attention drawn from his phone. “What are you talking about?”
“Well, you’re jealous that we’re speaking highly of the Ashby pack.”
“I absolutely am not.”
Shooting a glance over my shoulder at Ambrose, he smirked. He knew Mercury better than anyone else on this planet, and he agreed with me. That meant I was right.
I walked until I ended up between Mercury’s legs, my thighs forcing his knees apart. He looked up at me from his seat on the armchair, his phone laying on his lap as the screen darkened, and then went black.
“Is this some kind of intimidation tactic?” he demanded.
My grin widened. “Am I intimidating you?”
His cheeks were steadily growing pinker. The colour was cute as it rose to his high cheekbones. He glanced over my shoulder at Ambrose, trying for backup, but scowled when he received no help.
“Are you going to answer me?” I murmured.
Leaning over, I grabbed his chin and brought him closer to me. His eyes went glassy, sharp cinnamon scent swirling around me. His trousers bulged at the crotch, his cock straining to get free of its confines. Based on what Ambrose liked, I knew Mercury had to be submissive to him.
I hadn’t expected his submission to be so easy.
“You’re not intimidating me,” he said.
My fingers slid down his chin to grab his throat. The groan he let out was echoed by a whimper from Kiara. I imagined she was transfixed on this scene, especially with her inching closer to heat.
“Maybe I’m not,” I mused. “Maybe I’m turning you on.”
Pressing one leg forward, I spread his thighs until I could rub my knee against his clothed cock. A wet spot formed and Mercury stayed frozen. He tried to choke down his sounds, but it was no use. Nothing could stop the stream of moans, especially not when he started raising his hips to meet me. He ended up humping my leg and I let him, because it was better proof than anything else that Mercury wanted this.
He wanted me, and he wanted Kiara.
It complicated things further, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.
I pressed my knee to him and he ground against it. His hands clutched the arms of the chair, using them as leverage to help him move. My hand stayed wrapped around his throat.
He didn’t stop until his breath was stuttering on a gasp. Those cold eyes were expressive in this moment, broadcasting his bliss as it soaked his trousers.
All of us were silent for a long moment as his breathing evened out. There was evidence of how I turned him on, now. He would have to face it.
Except his expression closed off and he yanked back from my grip. I stepped back just in time to avoid getting head butted by him abruptly standing.
Without a word, he stormed from the room. There wasn’t anywhere to go in this apartment, really, but a second later the bedroom door slammed.
